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EUBCE 2026 - Jaehoon KIM - Integrated Two-Step Depolymerization and Electrocatalytic Upgrading of Lignin toward High-Yield Aromatic Monomers

Integrated Two-Step Depolymerization and Electrocatalytic Upgrading of Lignin toward High-Yield Aromatic Monomers

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Processes and concepts

Integrated Two-Step Depolymerization and Electrocatalytic Upgrading of Lignin toward High-Yield Aromatic Monomers

Short Introductive summary

Lignocellulosic biomass, an abundant non-edible resource, is a promising alternative, comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Lignin, a carbon-rich aromatic polymer, is particularly challenging to valorize due to its complex and recalcitrant structure, consisting of various C-O (?-O-4, 4-O-5, ?-O-4) and C-C (?-?, ?-5, 5-5) linkages. Traditional lignin valorization methods, such as pyrolyis or organosolv, often result in undesirable recondensation, leading to low yields of aromatic monomers. To overcome this, reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) has emerged, but batch RCF contaminates the valuable cellulose pulp with the catalyst, hindering downstream use. This study addresses these challenges by exploring and optimizing two advanced, decoupled strategies: an enhanced two-step catalytic hydrogenolysis and a sustainable electrocatalytic hydrogenolysis for the efficient conversion of lignin in birch wood to high-yield phenolic monomers and clean, recoverable glucan.

Presenter

Jaehoon KIM

Sungkyunkwan University, School of Mechanical Engineering & SKKU Advanced Institute of Nano Technology, REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Presenter's biography

2005 : Ph.D., North Carolina State University 2005-2007 : U.S. Army Research Office 2007-2013 : Korea Institute of Science and Technology 2013-present : Sungkyunkwan University

Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited


Co-authors:

J. Kim, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
N. Karanwal, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
S. Kim, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Y. Liyanage, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
K. Yi, Chungnam National University, Deajeon, REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Session reference: 3CV.4.28